Ralph Waite Net Worth

Ralph Waite net worth is$2 Million

Ralph Waite Wiki/Biography

Ralph Harold Waite Jr. was born on 22nd June 1928, in White Plains, New York State USA, and was an actor, director and politician as well, possibly best known to the world for appearing in the role of John Walton, Sr. in the popular TV series “The Waltons” (1972-1981), and in films “The Bodyguard” (1992) as Herb Farmer, and as Frank in “Cliffhanger” (1993), among other roles. Ralph passed away in 2014.

Have you ever wondered how rich Ralph Waite was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Ralph`s net worth was as high as $2 million, earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry, during which he made more than 80 film and TV appearances. Also, Ralph also tried himself in politics, but without any major success.

Ralph Waite Net Worth $2 Million

Ralph is the first born child of Ralph H. Waite and his wife Esther. He served in the US Marine Corps for two years, before he enrolled at Bucknell University, located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. After graduation he found a job as a social worker, but then furthered his education, obtaining a master`s degree from Yale University Divinity School. He was then ordained a Presbyterian minister, while also working as a religious editor for Harper & Row.

Ralph decided to become an actor in the early ‘60s, and began with the Peninsula Players summer theater program through the 1963 season, and later started to feature on stage, before making his Broadway debut in “Blues for Mister Charlie” (1964). He remained active on stage during the ‘60s, but eventually became more focused on films and TV.

He made his first TV appearance in the series “Hawk” (1966), and just a year later made his film debut in the Stuart Rosenberg`s Oscar-winning “Cool Hand Luke”. Before the end of the decade, Ralph also had roles in “A Lovely Way to Die” (1968), starring Kirk Douglas, among other appearances, which only increased his net worth.

Ralph started the ‘70s quite successfully, landing appearances in such films as “The Pursuit of Happiness” (1971), “Chato`s Land” (1972) with Charles Bronson, and “Trouble Man” (1972), before he got the role of John Walton, Sr in “The Waltons” (1972-1981), which role celebrated him as an actor, and increased his net worth by a large margin, as he appeared in 196 episodes. While the show lasted, Ralph stayed active on the map, and made numerous film appearances, including in such films as “Kid Blue” (1973), then a lead role in “The Secret Life of John Chapman” (1976), and his directorial debut with “On the Nickel” (1980).

In the early 80s, Ralph had featured as John Walton in television films about the famous fictional family, such as “A Wedding on Walton`s Mountain” (1982), “Mother`s Day on Walton Mountain” (1982), “A Day for Thanks on Walton`s Mountain” (1982), but also had many other roles throughout the decade, including in such productions as “The Mississippi” (1983-1984) as Ben Walker, then “Crime of Innocence” (1985) starring Andy Griffith, and the “The River Pirates” in 1988, with Richard Farnsworth and Ryan Francis in lead roles. His net worth was rrising.

The next decade was one of the most successful ones for Ralph as he appeared in several high profile films, such as Mick Jackson`s Oscar-nominated “The Bodyguard” (1992) next to Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, then Renny Harlin`s “Cliffhanger” (1993), which also received Oscar Award nominations, with Sylvester Stallone and John Lithgow, “A Season of Hope” (1995), and the TV series “Murder One” (1996), in which he portrayed Malcolm Dietrich.

Ralph started the new millennium with a role in action thriller “The President`s Man” (2000), with Chuck Norris in the lead role, and two years later featured in the romantic drama “Sunshine State”. In 2003 he was cast as Reverend Norman Balthus in the TV series “Carnivale” (2003-2005), and had small roles in low-budget films such as “Silver City” (2004), and “Murder 101: If Whises Were Horses.

In 2008 he re-emerged as Jackson Gibbs in the popular crime drama TV series “NCIS” (2008-2013), while also securing the role of Father Matt in the soap opera “Days of Our Lives”, which he played from 2009 until 2014, increasing his net worth by a large margin. Ralph also had roles in films such as Bill Norton`s “Generation Gap” (2008), “Letter to God” (2010), and Corbin Bernsen`s “25 Hill” (2011), all of which added further to his net worth.

Regarding his personal life, Ralph was married three times. His first wife was Beverly Hall(1951-66); the couple had three children. Secondly, he married Kerry Shear Waite in 1977 and divorced four years later. Just a year later he married Linda East, with whom he remained until his death. Ralph passed away on 13th February 2014 at 85 years of age.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Waltons (1971) For playing: "John Walton, Sr."., Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series Roots (1977) For playing "Third mate Slater".

Nominations

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series

Movies

The Waltons, NCIS, Cool Hand Luke, Carnivàle, The Bodyguard, Cliffhanger, On the Nickel, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, Lawman, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, The Grissom Gang

TV Shows

Carnivàle, The Mississippi, The Waltons, NCIS, Roots

#

Trademark

1

The role of John Walton Sr. on _"The Waltons" (1972)_.

2

Deep grouchy voice

3

Father roles post The Waltons as having been widowers.

4

Playing fathers of families/children, and fathers of the church,

#

Quote

1

I'm not any more moral than my neighbors.

2

I was never taken to a play or concert or church. Yet I was a show-off, a dreamer, a storyteller.

3

I have vanity and greed enough for one person. But at the same time, I feel in my bones you lose a lot of life's value if you don't see yourself as a member of the family of man.

4

The beauty of life is in people who feel some obligation to enhance life. Without that, we're only half alive.

5

'The Waltons' was profoundly important after years of wandering around. I was 44 and cut off from family and friends. It nurtured me back to a sense of family and who I am. It was a transforming experience.

6

You only mature when you face problems you can't deal with.

7

Just as theater has to be where people live, actors have to go out in the marketplace - not be cut off by a lens. Either an artist grows or he stagnates.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as John Walton Sr. on The Waltons (1971).

8

Ralph Waite passed away on February 13, 2014, at age 85, and within five months of three other legends, also born in 1928, aged 85 or 86: Shirley Temple, James Garner and Maya Angelou. The Last of Whom he co-starred in the first episode of Roots (1977).

9

He was physically healthy and active until contracting pneumonia, which caused his death at age 85.

In 2008, veteran actor James Garner was planning to come out of retirement from on camera roles when he was cast in NCIS (2003), but having a stroke soon after being cast, prevented him from doing it. The role was ultimately given to Waite, who was also born in 1928, but whose health was holding up rather better at that time. In the end, Waite passed away five months before Garner.

14

Is almost 3 months younger than James Garner. He guest-starred with him on an episode of Nichols (1971), and died 5 months before him.

15

When Waite's class had a 40th reunion in 1986, but he was starring in a play in New Haven. Unable to attend the main reunion dinner, he showed up for a brunch the following day.

16

His former mother-in-law, Pearl Shear, died in 2009 and lived to be age 91. Shear guest-starred on The Waltons (1971) with him.

17

Until his death, he resided in Palm Desert, California.

18

Served in the United Marine Corps for 2 years.

19

His eldest daughter, Sharon Waite, died of leukemia when she was 9 years old in 1964.

20

Met his first wife, Beverly Hall, in college. She inspired him to go into social work in New York's Westchester County.

21

He was an active member of Spirit of the Desert Presbyterian Fellowship in Palm Desert, California.

22

His father, Ralph H. Waite, was a construction engineer, and his mother, Esther (née Mitchell) Waite, was a housewife.

23

Graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work, and a Master's Degree from Yale University Divinity School.

24

Became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ.

25

Before he was a successful actor and a political activist, he was a bartender.

26

His problems with alcohol began when his 9-year-old daughter, Sharon, passed away.

27

Met his second wife, Kerry Shear Waite, when she showed up as a volunteer stage manager/actress at the Los Angeles Actors Theatre.

28

Was a longtime volunteer and board member of the ABC Alcohol and Recovery Center in Indio, California, serving for years as president.

29

Just before his death, he attended the book signing of his ex-The Waltons (1971) co-star, Mary McDonough, in Los Angeles, California.

30

Before he was a successful actor, ordained minister and political activist, he was also a social worker.

31

Acting ran in his family.

32

Was named after his father.

33

Didn't start acting until he was age 32.

34

Founder of the Los Angeles Actors Theater, which he financed in large part by himself.

35

Up until the ninth and final season, Waite had appeared in each and every episode of The Waltons (1971).

36

Had conducted a memorial service for his aunt, Grace Haviland Waite, at the Quaker Meeting House in Purchase, New York, in 1989.

37

Made his Broadway debut in Blues for Mister Charlie.

38

Founder of the popular eatery Don and Sweet Sue's Cafe in Cathedral City, California.

39

Survived by his wife, one child, one stepson, three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

40

Upon his death, he was cremated. His remains were buried at the White Plains Rural Cemetery, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.

Stepgrandfather of two boys, by stepson Liam Waite, Tristan River Waite, born October 12, 1998, and Asher Sky Waite, born September 2001. The mother of both boys was Liam's then fiancée Natasha Henstridge.